Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, have been handed a demanding schedule in the build-up to the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup after the official draw confirmed their qualifying opponents, ENigeria Newspaper learnt.
The reigning African champions will face Germany, France, Colombia, the Philippines and South Korea in the qualifying tournament, as they chase a ticket to the global showpiece.
The competition will be staged in Villeurbanne, Lyon, France, where teams will battle for the limited slots available for the World Cup. Playing on French soil means D’Tigress could potentially face the host nation, France, backed by a home crowd in one of the key fixtures of the series.
The Rema Wakama-led side head into the qualifiers with growing pedigree on the continental and global stage. D’Tigress have dominated African women’s basketball in recent years, winning multiple AfroBasket titles and establishing themselves as the team to beat on the continent. Their spirited showing at the 2024 Olympic Games further boosted their profile as they became the first African team of any gender to qualify for the quarter-finals of the tournament.
The core of the squad is expected to feature a mix of experienced internationals and emerging talents who have powered Nigeria’s recent success.
With Germany and France among Europe’s top sides, and Colombia and South Korea bringing different tactical challenges, the qualifiers promise to test D’Tigress’ depth and resilience. However, confidence remains high within the Nigerian camp as they aim to translate continental dominance into another appearance on the world stage.
The qualifiers are set to determine which nations secure their places at the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, with D’Tigress determined to ensure Nigeria’s flag flies once again at the tournament.
